PPR (PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS) DISEASE IN GOAT
ANKIT KUMAR
Email Id: ankitaiims357@gmail.com
Mob.no: 8292265530
Internee B.V.Sc student, Veterinary College & Research Institute Namakkal, TANUVAS
Introduction
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease of small ruminants known as ‘Plague of small ruminants’ or ‘Kata’. Peste des petits ruminant (PPR) is an acute and highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants and in particular of goats, popularly known as goat plague (Singh et al., 2004). It is WOAH (world organization for animal health) notifiable and economically important transboundary viral disease of ruminants particularly in small ruminants (sheep and goat). Usually, goats are more severely affected than sheep. The virus belongs to Paramyxoviridae family and genus morbillivirus. Mannheimia haemolytica is a weakly hemolytic, gram-negative coccobacillus that is an opportunistic pathogen of cattle, sheep and other ruminants. Mannheimia haemolytica has been recognized as the principal cause of death from pneumonic pasteurellosis affecting cattle, sheep, and goats and septicemic pasteurellosis in sheep and goats. At present, PPR is enzootic in India and outbreaks tend to occur regularly among small ruminants throughout the country, causing significant economic loss in terms of morbidity, mortality, and loss of productivity due to trade restriction (Kerur et al., 2008; Raghavendra et al., 2008). The virus can infect up to 90% of an animal flock, and can kill up to 70 percent of infected animals. PPR was first reported in 1942 in West Africa. PPR is a major constraint in small ruminant production causing huge economic losses in terms of morbidity, mortality, productivity losses with trade restriction (Singh et al., 2004, Balamurugan et al., 2014). In India incidence of PPR first recorded in Arasur village in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu state (Shalia et al., 1989). Till 1993 the disease was restricted to south India only. Nanda (1996) reported that due to epidemics of PPR in northern India small ruminants were affected and devastated.
Keywords: Caprine, Goat, Mannheimia haemolytica, PPR, therapeutic management.
Transmission of Disease
Transmission of the disease takes place by direct contact with secretions or excretions from infected animals to healthy ones, which are in close contact. The virus generally replicates in lymphoid or epithelial tissue of gastrointestinal or respiratory tract. During incubation period the disease may transmit to other animals. The Cattle, buffalo, and pigs can be naturally infected with PPR virus, but they are dead-end hosts.
Clinical Observation
The incubation period of the disease is 3-6 days, and is characterized by high fever, oculonasal discharges, pneumonia, stomatitis, and inflammation of gastrointestinal tract leading to severe diarrhoea followed by death or recovery (Balamurugan et al., 2014; Sen et al., 2010; Zahur et al., 2008). The animal become restless, dry muzzle, dull coat, depressed appetite, and congested mucous membrane. Nasal discharge is initially serous in nature and gradually becomes mucopurulent with putrid smell. There is profuse diarrhoea followed by dehydration and emaciation. Necrotic stomatitis occurs in lower lip and gum. In severe cases the dental pad, palate, cheeks, and tongue is affected. Congested conjunctivae or catarrhal conjunctivitis with matting of eyelids is also observed. In nasal cavity there may be necrosis. In severe cases the lesions may occur in hard palate and pharynx. The postmortem findings are limited mainly to alimentary tract that consists of erosive stomatitis (extensive in nature) as well as haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Often, streaks of congestion may be found along the mucosal folds that result in the characteristic appearance of ‘zebra-strip’ (Chauhan et al., 2009). There are chances of bronchopneumonia characterized by coughing. The animal dies due to hypothermia in most of the cases and usually after 5–10 days.
Diagnosis of Disease
The disease is diagnosed based on case history, clinical and pathological findings and finally isolation of virus through agar-gel immunodiffusion technique. The ELISA and PCR method is preferred technique for confirmation of PPR virus. After post-mortem of animal specimens like tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen or lung may be collected for diagnosis. Differential diagnosis includes pyrexia, erosive stomatitis (involving the lips, gums, and tongue), anorexia, oculo-nasal discharges, diarrhoea and dehydration followed by either recovery or death.
Fig:1 Nasal discharge Fig2: Ulcerative lesion on mouth & nostrils.
Treatment and Control of Disease
There is no specific treatment available for PPR. Only symptomatic treatment for secondary infection may be given. Even though vaccination is available against PPR, it has not yet received the coverage that it requires. However, supportive therapy in the form of rehydration through infusion of fluids, antibiotic therapy coupled with anti-histaminic has been largely successful in the control of the disease (Chakrabarti, 2003).To reduce mortality in herd the use of drugs that control the bacterial and parasitic complications like Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline are recommended to prevent secondary pulmonary infections. Metronidazole@10mg/kg body weight I/V can be given daily to surmount the protozoal load in the intestine and alleviate signs of diarrhoea. A course of third generation cephalosporin (Ceftriaxone and sulbactam) at the rate of 7.5 mg/Kg body weight can also be given I/V to overcome respiratory infection. Similar studies have shown that cephalosporin antibiotics are effective in the treatment of PPR (Kumar et al., 2015). Levamisole at the rate of 2.5mg/kg body weight subcutaneously can be given to boost immunity in the affected animals. Perusal of literature point towards an increasing effectiveness of Levamisole in the treatment of PPR and have been shown to boost immunity in the affected animals (Das et al., 2016). Hygiene and sanitation are prime importance to protect or restrict the disease in animal shed. Infected animals should be immediately separated from the health flock. To prevent dehydration fluid therapy may be given intravenously. Clean drinking water and green grasses may be given to the animals. An effective Vero-cell line based live attenuated indigenous freeze-dried vaccine has been developed and validated using extensive field trials. The vaccine has a shelf life of more than one year at 4°C and provides immunity for three years. The vaccine is safe, potent, and acceptable for use even during pregnancy. Vaccine would help in reducing losses due to morbidity and mortality and thus improve economic condition of poor sheep and goat farmers in the country. Vaccination for PPR in goats should be done at the age of 3 month for kid and above once in three years.
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Outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Goats in India
